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The Lost Years

The photos stopped when you were 10 or 11. Around that time, you started refusing to have your pictures taken. A few candid shots are all I’ve managed since then. In them, the look on your face is growing inward, as a cocoon slowly encloses you in a translucent mystery, turning you into a dark silhouette as you start to construct your own parallel universe, in a tug of war with a thousand things you are just starting to learn the meaning of, morphing into what the world will know, what I will, with any luck, recognize only with squinted eyes when the cocoon reopens. For now, I can’t see you. All I can do is wait.

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Diane Perna

Date: 2/13/2023 12:38:00 PM

Profound! I can relate!

Bray Holt

Date: 2/9/2023 11:03:00 PM

The Lost Years is a brilliant expression of a wise parental observation. Well done and thank you for it.

Richard Morris

Date: 2/9/2023 2:26:00 PM

Great poem of how to greet each day.

Al Juman

Date: 7/9/2018 12:18:00 PM

indeed this was well written

Bernard Chan
Date: 7/9/2018 8:11:00 PM

Thank you, Al. Glad you liked it.

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 6/19/2018 10:19:00 PM

This is brilliant Bernard. A fave :) xomo!

Bernard Chan
Date: 6/20/2018 9:47:00 AM

Hey, thanks a lot, Maureen :)

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 6/10/2018 5:49:00 PM

Hello Bernard, I have enjoyed your poem. We all have lost years Bernard. Have a nice evening my friend.

Bernard Chan
Date: 6/11/2018 4:48:00 AM

Thanks for dropping by again, Darlene, and for your lovely comment. You have a nice evening, too :)

Joe Dimino

Date: 6/9/2018 7:08:00 PM

Well done, Bernard; deep and heartfelt. Often the world shapes things away from us...a temptation to change--not to be left behind alone. But, really, one's own truth intact far exceeds a world of others.

Bernard Chan
Date: 6/10/2018 7:13:00 AM

Thanks very much, Joe. Appreciate it.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/12/2018 3:30:00 AM

I love this poem; it is going to my FAV list. You have captured the essence of the pre-teen years, and you are wise enough to know it's only temporary.

Bernard Chan
Date: 5/12/2018 9:54:00 AM

I know it's only temporary because that's what I've been told by other parents, so the wisdom is not mine. Thank you very much, Caren :)

Vijay Pandit

Date: 5/8/2018 7:19:00 AM

This is such a powerful observation..I can relate to the experience you describe so well, when our kids approach teenage years..a natural inclination for independence..well captured Bernard.

Bernard Chan
Date: 5/8/2018 10:47:00 AM

Thanks a lot for dropping by again, Vijay, and for your generous comment. Great talking to you again.